BEST Suburbs For Families To Live In Raleigh, NC - Living in Raleigh, NC
As a local real estate agent here in Raleigh, the two questions I hear every single week are: "What are the safest areas around Raleigh for my family?" and "Which suburbs have the best schools?" If you're considering relocating to the Raleigh area with your family, you're asking the right questions. Today, I'm sharing the four towns that consistently rank at the top for both safety and schools, giving you everything you need to know to make the best decision for your family.
Cary: America's Safest City
Let's start with the crown jewel of family-friendly suburbs. Cary was recently named the number one safest city to live in America, and when you look at North Carolina as a whole, Wake County specifically, or just the Raleigh area, Cary continually ranks in the top five for best places to live, best suburbs to raise a family, best suburbs for young professionals, and best public schools according to Niche.com.
What makes Cary so special for families? For starters, it's perfectly located just 15 minutes from downtown Raleigh, making it easy to access everything while maintaining that suburban feel. The city offers a diverse food scene, excellent shopping, and proximity to top universities in the country. Families especially love the 35 greenways with over 70 miles to explore and 34 parks totaling 2,700 acres. The recently transformed downtown Cary has become a wonderful gathering space for all ages.
The job market here is exceptional, with SAS and Epic Games (creators of Fortnite) headquartered in town, plus easy access to Research Triangle Park's 375 companies employing over 65,000 people, including IBM, Cisco, Lenovo, and Apple. As part of Wake County's school district, Cary's schools rank among the best in North Carolina.
When it comes to housing, the median price for a single-family home is approximately $682,500, with townhomes around $487,500. Homes can range all the way up to $3.6 million, and as of October 2023, there's even a stunning home listed for $9.6 million that's just under 10,000 square feet.
Apex: The Peak of Family Living
Apex was recently voted the number one best place to buy a home in the Raleigh area and ranks as the 12th best small city in America. Like Cary, it consistently places in the top five for best places to live, best suburbs for families, and best public schools. The town's location near the center of the Research Triangle region, just 20 minutes from RDU Airport and close to NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, and Duke University, makes it incredibly convenient for families.
What really sets Apex apart for families is its safety record. With a crime rate of just 10.3% compared to the national average of 22.7%, parents can feel secure letting their kids play outside. The lively downtown offers cute shops and great restaurants, while the town hosts wonderful community festivals that bring neighbors together. As part of Wake County Public Schools, Apex offers highly rated educational options including public, charter, and private schools.
The job variety in and around Apex spans professional, technical, and scientific fields, with that easy 20-minute commute to RTP where 65,000 people work – about the same number of people who live in all of Apex! Housing prices reflect the desirability, with single-family homes averaging $693,000 and townhouses around $465,000.
Holly Springs: The Hidden Gem
Nestled between Cary and Apex, Holly Springs offers families the best of both worlds. It's just 10-15 minutes to either neighboring town and about 25 minutes to downtown Raleigh. What makes Holly Springs special is that unlike typical commuter towns, it's developed its own high-tech industry base, hosting top biotech and life science companies like Amgen, Seracure, and Fujifilm.
Safety-wise, Holly Springs is exceptional, rating just 8.5 out of 100 on crime statistics – even lower than other Western Wake County towns. The town offers both a quaint old downtown and new shopping areas, great community events, and plenty of parks and outdoor spaces. When the I-540 extension completes in the next few years, connectivity will improve even more.
Schools here maintain the same high standards as the rest of Wake County, with top-rated public schools plus private and charter options. The median home price sits at approximately $650,000 for single-family homes and $485,000 for townhomes, making it slightly more affordable than Cary or Apex while maintaining the same quality of life.
Fuquay-Varina: Small Town Feel, Big Town Amenities
Fuquay-Varina has absolutely exploded in growth over the past decade while maintaining its small-town charm. You'll find a unique mixture of populated areas alongside stretches of farmland and trees, giving families that country feel without sacrificing convenience. Located on the southwest side of the Triangle, it's a bit further out – about 30-45 minutes to RTP and 25-40 minutes to downtown Raleigh – making it perfect for remote workers or those who don't mind a longer commute.
What's fascinating about Fuquay-Varina is that it actually has two downtowns, remnants from when it was two separate towns. Combined with neighboring Holly Springs, the area covers half the square miles of Cary, so accessing amenities like Bass Lake, Holly Springs Farmers Market, or Ting Park feels like they're in your backyard.
The schools here are new and improved, including a rebuilt Fuquay-Varina High School, the new Willow Springs High School, and popular Southern Wake Academy charter school. Families love the 20 parks covering 500 acres, 36 miles of walkable trails, and the fantastic dog park and splash pad for kids. The town even boasts North Carolina's largest Costco! Housing remains more affordable here, with single-family homes averaging $435,000 and townhomes around $375,000.
Living Through Four Seasons
No matter which suburb you choose, you'll experience true four-season weather. Spring and fall are absolutely gorgeous, though spring brings about three weeks of yellow pollen that will test your allergies. Summers are hot, sticky, and humid – quite different from the dry heat I was used to in California. Temperatures range from the 80s to 90s, but the humidity makes it feel much hotter. Thank goodness for air conditioning!
Winters are mild with temperatures typically in the 40s to 50s, occasionally dropping to the 30s, and daytime highs can reach the 60s or 70s. We joke that you can experience all four seasons in one week, sometimes even in one day! Snow is rare, maybe once or twice a year with just a couple of inches that last a few days at most. Schools often close at even the forecast of snow since we don't have much snow removal equipment.
We average about 47 inches of rain annually, which explains our lush, green landscape. Coming from California where we averaged 11-12 inches, this was quite an adjustment. When it rains hard on the highways, everyone slows to a crawl because visibility drops dramatically, but storms usually pass quickly.
Making Your Family's Choice
If you're looking for a lifestyle combining great location, safety, and top-rated schools, any of these four suburbs would make an excellent home for your family. Each offers its own unique character while maintaining the high standards that make the Raleigh area such a desirable place to raise children.
Ready to explore these family-friendly communities in person? I'd love to help you find the perfect neighborhood and home for your family's needs. Give me a call at 919-583-6895, and let's start your journey to finding your ideal family home in the Triangle.
Brandy Nemergut
Your Local Raleigh Area Realtor
919-583-6895
Brandy Nemergut
